voice of thorrinre

bySyed Nadzri and Sheridan Mhadevan

PATTANI, Oct 31:
AN uneasy calm has descended on Thailand’s deep south yesterday following a series of explosions in two major towns just within hours of each other.
The blast at a pub in Golok late on Thursday night which killed three people and injured 22 more, followed by two quick explosions at a restaurant in Yala (one killed, 21 injured), brought fresh jitters to a region already rocked by persistent uncertainty.Although it is not conclusive at this stage, the blasts have been linked directly to the death of 84 people as a result of police and military operation on a group of demonstrators in Tak Bai near the Kelantan border last Monday.Most of those who died in that incident were said to have been cruelly treated while in custody, many suffocating after being thrown like bricks into grossly overcrowded trucks and later transported for six hours to the Pattani army camp, 120km away.Hence, the ambers of animosity and mistrust permeating between the mainly Muslim southerners with separatist tendencies and the Thai authorities were reignited once more.And this is made worse by rumours including postings through the Internet that there would be revenge attacks and that Bangkok would “burn”.Meanwhile, EDDIE CHUA reports in Kuala Lumpur that terrorism analysts in the region predict that similar attacks would be mounted within shorter intervals. “Southern Thailand will be a hot bed for separatist activities especially after the killing of the protesters,” said Zachary Abuza, a leading scholar on terrorism in Southeast Asia (see full report on Page 5).The bleak atmosphere in southern Thailand could be seen in Yala following the latest blasts. The thriving Chang Lee Hotel, not far from the scene of the blasts, was like a ghost building, all the guests having checked out.Yala is about the size of Kuala Terengganu but business suffered with the shutters of many shops in the vicinity down. There were many other shops which remained opened but it was quite clear that people were jittery.The same situation was felt in Narathiwat and it was worse in Tak Bai.Tak Bai, a small town just across the river from Pengkalan Kubur in Kelantan, was like a military outpost and the heavy presence of men in uniforms was intimidating indeed.All roads leading to the police station, the scene of Monday’s crackdown on demonstrators, were closed and guarded by policemen and soldiers carrying machine guns and assault rifles.Motorcycles approaching the area were thoroughly checked for fear that these bikes might carry explosives, a popular method of detonating bombs.We were in Tak Bai late Friday afternoon. Although a few Ramadan stalls were operating, the people seemed very nervous when speaking to strangers like us.We could sense too that our presence was being watched very closely by the soldiers.The people refused to answer questions about what really happened last Monday and whether the protesters were mistreated after being arrested.But their silence won’t stop stories already spreading about how the soldiers hit the detainees with the butt of their rifles. It was reported that some of those arrested were stripped from the waist up, hands tied behind their backs and asked to lie face down on the road scorched by the midday sun.Not only were pleas for mercy during the fasting month go unheeded, it was said that some of these detainees were dragged for several metres before being thrown into the back of trucks. The overcrowding apparently were five or six deep in some of the trucks.Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has promised to launch a full-scale inquiry into the latest incidents. But it is quite clear that the episode was another setback to efforts by his government to win the hearts and minds of the people in the deep south.Observers point out that problems in the southern provinces were mainly political in nature. The use of force and the military can never be a solution.

by Kalimullah Hassan

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30:
It was a year of sorrow and a year of triumph.

It was a year of success and a year of targets unattained.It had also been a hectic year, with never enough time for all he wanted to do. So little time for old friends and, sometimes, even less for his own family.But overall, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says his first 12 months as Prime Minister of Malaysia "have been good".In the year ahead, he wants to ensure that the policies he introduced start showing results, as this is "what the public expects".In an exclusive two-hour interview with the New Sunday Times and Berita Minggu at his residence, Abdullah looked back at the year past as Malaysia’s top public servant and hoped he had done well by the people and the country.It has not been all hunky dory, Abdullah readily admits.He is still not happy with the public delivery system. Nor is he satisfied with the progress in the fight against corruption. He still complains about government services."Unfortunately, these things take time. I know that many people will be impatient with that answer but, as I have said, the process is on-going."I admit that people’s hopes have been raised because I always talk about the need for a better delivery system. Our civil service is generally good and efficient."We would not have been able to achieve what we have if they were as slow and inefficient as some people made them out to be."In many cases, some bad hats tarnish the image of the whole service. But we will keep working to improve. I will see to it that there are results," he promised.Abdullah is also unhappy with the progress in the fight against corruption."No. I am not happy, although I know the ACA (Anti-Corruption Agency) is working very hard. This year, it is opening more investigations, receiving more reports."It is working hard but if you want justice, you cannot hurry. Some big cases take a long time. Before you can charge a man in court, you have to have very strong evidence. You cannot prosecute a person on hearsay or flimsy evidence. You must be sure before you proceed (to prosecute). But the bottom line is that we must never stop battling corruption."But there have also been many successes despite the adversities.The most difficult thing, Abdullah said, was managing the deficit and at the same time, ensuring that there was economic growth."I will leave it for the people to judge but I think it is a good sign that the economy has grown 7.8 per cent for the first half of the year without pump-priming, while unemployment and inflation have remained low."But it’s not just (the) growth. For example, we have managed to start many things. We set up the Royal Commission on the Police. We have instituted a National Integrity Plan and established the Malaysian Institute of Integrity." I have given the go-ahead for the setting up of the ACA Academy."We have launched efforts to improve counter service at the Immigration Department, for example."We have started reform in education."We have sent out flying squads to improve administration of the Land Office."The Prime Minister lamented that there were not enough hours in a day for him to do all that he wanted to do. "Being Prime Minister, I think I have more work now than at any time before. (Laughs) I thought this was the time when I could just ask people to do the work and I supervised from a distance. But it doesn’t work that way, I suppose."For things to work, it has to be leadership by example. If I am to live by that philosophy, then I must work hard in order for others to also work hard," he said.The lack of time is something that Abdullah is painfully aware of.For the major part of this year, his wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, has been battling cancer. But save for a few days mid-year, Abdullah had not been able to be with her while she underwent treatment.Just days before his mother, Datuk Kailan Hassan, passed away, she came to Kuala Lumpur to be with him, but he managed to spend only a few hours with her. She returned to Kepala Batas and, a day later, died.Abdullah said he was affected by Endon’s illness and his inability to be with her. The passing of his mother, to whom he was very attached, was "quite difficult".But still, he said, there were happier moments.What was his happiest day in the first year? He grinned playfully and said: "Winning the elections …"Abdullah led the Barisan Nasional to its best ever electoral victory since Independence, winning more than 90 per cent of all seats contested and delivering a crushing blow to the opposition Parti Islam and Keadilan."We have had a successful general election, and the Umno elections are now over. Malaysia remains stable and peaceful. "The people have given us their support. The response from overseas — from the investors and the media — has been good. Our relationships (with other countries) have been good and friendly, too."Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah). Overall, I think it has been a good year."Abdullah was in a light-hearted mood, bantering with his special assistants, Kamal Khalid and Zaki Zahid, during the interview.His aides, who represent the younger generation of well educated and successful professionals, include Dr Vincent Lim, his political secretary, who left shortly before the interview.He later took Berita Harian Group Editor Hishamuddin Aun, a first-time visitor to his house, on a guided tour to see his herbal garden, walking stick collection and his prized koi (carp) collection.At the end, the last question posed was, what was his dream for Malaysia five years down the road?"I want a Malaysia that is peaceful and more advanced. A Malaysia that is united, a place where its people are given the space to excel in everything they do. "I want Malaysia to be closer to achieving the objectives of Vision 2020."

Oleh Hishamuddin Aun

PUTRAJAYA: “Ia adalah setahun yang memuaskan,” kata Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebagai menyimpulkan genap setahun kepemimpinannya sejak mengangkat sumpah sebagai Perdana Menteri kelima pada 31 Oktober tahun lalu.
“Saya beranggapan secara amnya rakyat menyatakan sokongan kepada saya manakala pengkritik juga rata-rata berlaku adil.
“Malah, maklum balas dari luar negara, sama ada daripada pelabur atau media massa, juga amat baik. Hubungan kita dengan negara luar amat baik dan mesra,” katanya dalam temu bual eksklusif dengan The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad (NSTP) di kediaman rasminya di sini.
Sambil menganggap 12 bulan pertamanya selaku Perdana Menteri sebagai tempoh paling sibuk hingga mengorbankan banyak waktu tidur dengan kesempatan amat terbatas bagi rakan-rakan mahupun keluarga, Abdullah berkata ia jauh daripada menyerupai tempoh ‘berbulan madu’.Tahun berikut ini pula dilihat Abdullah sebagai masa untuk memastikan semua perancangan yang sudah terlakar, perlu diterjemah menjadi kenyataan kerana rakyat mahu melihat pelaksanaan dan hasilnya.“Dalam tahun pertama, penekanannya ialah memastikan rakyat faham dengan apa yang ingin saya lakukan. Saya sudah nyatakan mengenai perlunya kita mempunyai barangan dan perkhidmatan bermutu, keperluan mempunyai prestasi tinggi.“Saya tekankan juga mengenai kepentingan menguruskan ekonomi dan kepentingan nilai tambah. Saya bercakap mengenai integriti, membasmi rasuah dan sistem penyampaian awam yang berkesan.“Saya membicarakan soal pendidikan dan perlunya menanam keyakinan terhadap golongan muda kerana mereka adalah masa depan kita. Saya juga memperkatakan soal menjadikan pertanian sebagai sumber pertumbuhan ekonomi dan pendapatan tambahan,” katanya.Seperti yang pernah dihujahkan dalam temu bual sempena 100 hari pentadbirannya, Perdana Menteri mengulangi bahawa beliau berasakan tidak cukup jumlah jam dalam sehari untuk melaksanakan segala apa yang ingin dilakukannya.“Rasanya kerja saya lebih banyak sebagai Perdana Menteri berbanding sebelum ini (ketawa)... Ingatkan inilah masanya saya boleh meminta orang lain bekerja dan saya cuma menyelia dari jauh tetapi nampaknya tidak begitu. Kita mesti mengamalkan kepemimpinan melalui teladan jika mahu segala-galanya berjalan lancar,” katanya.Abdullah turut ditanya mengenai saat paling menggembirakannya dalam tempoh setahun memimpin kerajaan dan kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam Pilihan Raya Umum, 21 Mac lalu, adalah yang teratas dalam senarainya.Di bawah kepemimpinannya, BN mencatat prestasi terbaik dalam pilihan raya umum sejak negara merdeka dengan memenangi lebih 90 peratus kerusi dipertandingkan dan dalam proses itu memberi kekalahan terbesar kepada Pas dan Keadilan.“Kita mengharungi pilihan raya umum dengan jaya manakala pemilihan dalam Umno juga sudah selesai. Malaysia kekal stabil dan aman. Secara keseluruhannya, saya berasakan ia adalah tahun yang memuaskan,” katanya.Di antara tahun berdukacita – ibu Perdana Menteri, Datuk Khailan Hassan, meninggal dunia 2 Februari lalu – ia juga tahun kemenangan. Dan di sebalik ia tahun kejayaan, jangka masa itu juga masih sarat dengan matlamat yang belum tercapai.Perdana Menteri lebih daripada bersedia untuk mengakui bahawa tidak semuanya berjalan seperti diharapkan, dengan ada perkara tertentu yang tidak dilakukan secepat yang dikehendakinya.Antara lain, Abdullah masih tidak berpuas hati dengan sistem penyampaian awam, begitu juga kemajuan dalam langkah memerangi rasuah, selain rungutan yang masih kedengaran terhadap perkhidmatan awam.“Ada ketikanya saya sendiri merungut tetapi sesetengah (perkara) mengambil masa. Saya tahu ramai yang kurang sabar dengan jawapan seperti itu tetapi seperti yang saya katakan, prosesnya berterusan.“Saya juga akui harapan rakyat turut meningkat kerana saya sering bercakap mengenai perlunya sistem penyampaian yang lebih baik. Perkhidmatan awam kita amnya adalah baik dan berkesan.“Kita tidak mungkin mencapai apa yang sudah kita peroleh jika perkhidmatan awam kita lembap dan kurang berkesan seperti digambarkan sesetengah pihak.“Dalam banyak kes, ada segelintir kakitangan yang menjejaskan imej keseluruhan perkhidmatan tetapi kita akan terus berusaha memperbaikinya. Saya boleh berikan jaminan bahawa hasilnya akan dapat dilihat,” katanya.Abdullah berkata beliau juga belum berpuas hati dengan langkah memerangi rasuah walaupun mengakui Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) bekerja keras untuk membanteras amalan keji itu.“Memang saya tidak berpuas hati tetapi tahun ini, BPR membuka lebih banyak siasatan, menerima lebih banyak laporan dan membuat lebih pendakwaan berbanding tahun lalu.“Mereka memang bekerja keras tetapi kita tidak boleh berharap untuk tergesa-gesa jika keadilan mahu ditegakkan, (apatah lagi) sesetengah kes besar memerlukan masa yang panjang. Sebelum seseorang boleh didakwa, bukti kukuh diperlukan.“Seseorang tidak boleh didakwa hanya berdasarkan cakap-cakap atau bukti samar. Anda perlu berasa pasti sebelum boleh meneruskan pendakwaan tetapi natijahnya ialah kita tidak harus berhenti daripada memerangi rasuah,” katanya.Dalam pada itu, tahun pertama kepemimpinan Perdana Menteri tidak juga ketandusan kejayaan, dengan perkara paling sukar ialah mengurus defisit dan pada masa yang sama memastikan ekonomi terus berkembang.“Saya menyerahkannya kepada rakyat untuk menilainya tetapi saya rasa pertumbuhan ekonomi pada kadar 7.8 peratus bagi separuh pertama tahun ini selain pengangguran dan inflasi kekal pada paras rendah, adalah petanda baik.“Ia juga bukan hanya berkisar kepada pertumbuhan. Antara lain, kita sudah memulakan banyak langkah, contohnya menubuhkan sebuah suruhanjaya diraja polis, menggubal Pelan Integriti Kebangsaan dan mewujudkan Institut Integriti Malaysia. Saya juga sudah merestui penubuhan Akademi BPR.“Kita sudah mengorak langkah untuk memperbaiki perkhidmatan kaunter, umpamanya di Jabatan Imigresen. Kita juga sudah memulakan pembaharuan dalam pendidikan. Di samping itu juga, kita menghantar pasukan khas untuk meningkatkan pentadbiran pejabat tanah,” katanya.Hasil perubahan yang diperkenalkan itu, tunggakan pendaftaran dapat dikurangkan sebanyak 86 peratus atau 300,000 kes manakala 17 peratus lagi kes tertunggak yang lain dapat diselesaikan.“Dalam pada itu, masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan dan kita berharap untuk melihat lebih banyak kemajuan dalam tahun berikut ini,” katanya.

berita harian, 31 oktober 2004

Daripada Abdul Rahman Bin Samurah ra berkata, Nabi Muhammad saw bersabda: "Sesungguhnya aku telah mengalami mimpi-mimpi yang menakjubkan pada malam aku sebelum di Israqkan........"

1. Aku telah melihat seorang dari umatku telah didatang oleh malaikatul maut dengan keadaan yg amat mengerunkan untuk mengambil nyawanya, maka malaikat itu terhalang perbuatannya itu disebabkan oleh KETAATAN DAN KEPATUHANNYA KEPADA KEDUA IBUBAPANYA.

2. Aku melihat seorang dari umatku telah disediakan azab kubur yang amat menyiksakan, maka

ia telah diselamatkan oleh berkat WUDUKNYA YANG SEMPURNA.

3. Aku melihat seorang dari umatku sedang dikerumuni oleh syaitan-syaitan dan iblis-iblis lakhnatullah, maka ia diselamatkan dengan berkat ZIKIRNYA YANG TULUS IKHLAS kepada Allah.

4. Aku melihat bagaimana umatku diseret dengan rantai yang diperbuat daripada api neraka jahanam yang dimasukkan dari mulut dan dikeluarkan rantai tersebut ke duburnya oleh malaikut Ahzab, tetapi SOLATNYA YANG KHUSUK DAN TIDAK MENUNJUK-NUNJUK telah melepaskannya dari seksaan itu.

5. Aku melihat umatku ditimpa dahaga yang amat berat,setiap kali dia mendatangi satu telaga dihalang dari meminumnya,ketika itu datanglah pahala PUASANYA YANG IKHLAS KEPADA ALLAH SWT memberi minum hingga ia merasa puas.

6. Aku melihat umatku cuba untuk mendekati kumpulan para nabi yang sedang duduk berkumpulan-kumpulan,setiap kali dia datang dia akan diusir, maka menjelmalah MANDI JUNUB DENGAN RUKUN YANG SEMPURNANYA sambil memimpinnya ke kumpulanku seraya duduk disebelahku.

7. Aku melihat seorang dari umatku berada di dalam keadan gelap gelita disekelilingnya,sedangkan dia sendiri di dalam keadaan binggung, maka datanglah pahala HAJI DAN UMRAHNYA YANG IKHLAS KEPADA ALLAH SWT lalu mengeluarkannya dari kegelapan kepada tempat yang terang-menderang.

8. Aku melihat umatku cuba berbicara dengan golongan orang mukmin tetapi mereka tidakpun membalas bicaranya,maka menjelmalah SIFAT SILATURRAHIMNYA DAN TIDAK SUKA BERMUSUH-MUSUHAN SESAMA UMATKU lalu menyeru kepada mereka agar menyambut bicaranya, lalu berbicara mereka dengannya.

9. Aku melihat umatku sedang menepis-nepis percikan api ke mukannya,maka segeralah menjelma pahala SEDEKAHNYA YANG IKHLAS KERANA ALLAH SWTlalu menabir muka dan kepalanya dari bahaya api tersebut.

BERSABDA RASULULLAH SAW, "SAMPAIKANLAH PESANANKU KEPADA UMATKU YANG LAIN WALAUPUN DENGAN SEPOTONG AYAT"

"Beriman,Berilmu,Beramal"